FTC Said to Not Oppose Cruise Mergers

Antitrust staff at the Federal Trade Commission recommended that the agency not oppose the acquisition of P&O; Princess Cruises by either Carnival Corp. or Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., sources said.

Even though either deal would reduce the number of competitors in the cruise business, the FTC’s competition bureau told the agency’s five commissioners that the companies would be unable to raise prices as a result, one source said.

The final decision requires a vote by the commission. Either deal would combine two of the world’s top three cruise lines.